“The blade maintenance contract follows our service and maintenance strategy. By focusing on preventive maintenance we can minimize the lifetime cost and unexpected damage in turbines, and anticipate maintenance costs,” says Jaakko Kleemola, Technology Manager, Suomen Hyötytuuli Oy.
“This is a significant step for us, as the whole Spindurance concept is based on volume and efficient maintenance of turbines. Having a multiple-year service contract with a major Finnish wind power production company is of high value to us, and paves way for a more proactive approach to wind turbine blade maintenance,” comments Ville Karkkolainen, Managing Director of Bladefence.
The Spindurance concept is a fixed-fee blade maintenance programme, which is fully customised based on the requirements of the specific wind farm and condition of the blades. The blades are regularly inspected up-close, including the lightning protection system and drainage hole. Small wear and tear issues are repaired at the same time, thus preventing them from growing into larger and more expensive issues to repair. All the work carried out is fully documented, enabling the customer to have detailed information on the condition of their assets throughout the years, which is crucial to have in any warranty or insurance discussions. The repairs have a lifetime warranty since they can be regularly monitored under Spindurance. Furthermore, well maintained blades produce more energy.
Bladefence is a specialist for wind turbine blade condition analysis, repairs and maintenance. The company utilises advanced skylift equipment and UV-curing blade repair method in its operations. In combination, these enable operations in harsh weather conditions, cutting-edge efficiency and minimise turbine downtime. The company was certified by Germanischer Lloyd for blade repairs in 2012 as the first company in the Nordic countries. The company offers services throughout Europe and Canada.
